It’s been quite some time since my last blog on a food joint, just that I haven’t been eating anything worthwhile to write on. However, there was this one place I had been longing to visit and moreover being really close to my workplace, there was this constant buzz in my head to head there and take a dig at the yummy steaks at offer there, well, that’s what I’ve been hearing from whosoever been there before. So, did it live up to its reputation and word of mouth publicity, Well, Read On!!!
Miller’s 46 Steakhouse…as it’s called owing to its location, number 46 on Miller’s Road (neat one, nice thinking on that front) is by no means the swanky restaurant that you would tend to imagine, on hearing the name. On the other hand, Millers is located in such a place where it’s perhaps even harder to spot considering the heavy traffic on the road leading to millers. But, nevertheless, it definitely attracts a sizeable crowd. So, Round 1 goes to millers, any food joint with a sizeable crowd most definitely makes for a good place to visit. The moment you set foot into Millers, the scene almost transforms into a set straight out of a 1960’s old School American Cowboy movie. At the entrance, you have a little mannequin of a cowboy (a little too short for a cowboy though), a little wooden toy horse, a saddle, which in a way helps you to build an idea of what you could expect when you get in. The interiors do not disappoint you at all, the décor of the place is all wooden with a wild wild west theme. The pictures on the wall, the menu and even the furniture and upholstery all adding to the mood. So, Round 2 to millers, good thinking in setting up the décor.
Now, for the most important aspect of all, the Food, riding on a wave of reviews from some really satisfied palates my expectation was definitely on the higher. Being honest to my word, Millers definitely didn’t disappoint. The lamb Onion soup was light and tender just enough to wake up that palate for what’s to come ahead. The deep fried chicken with bbq sauce was a winner, what a way to start. Chicken Stroganoff, little stripped pieces of chicken cooked in a light sour sauce, served with rice and fresh boiled vegetable stole the show for me. There were other yummy steaks in offer too, like chicken cooked in bbq sauce with mashed potatoes. Again, Round 3, Millers the winner, for living up to its reputation.
With all the odds stacked in favour of The Steakhouse, perhaps the one last act that could heavily tilt the balance the Millers way is the pricing. So, how do they score there? Really well I should say, with a meal for 2 summing up to Rs 650 – 750 inclusive of starters and beverages is surely a sweet deal. Round 4, Millers all the way.
Millers 46!!!!!.......A 46ixser it is………..
Monday, July 26, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
F1 season 2010...........
It seems to be becoming a habit for me to post at the beginning of every F1 season. But this season is that little extra special considering the fact that it marks the return of the Greatest Man to have ever walked the F1 turf, "Michael 'THE KING' Schumacher". Though, this time round he will not be donning the scarlett red racing suit which of late has become synonym to his name. This time round Michael will be teaming up with his lucky charm Ross Brawn at Mercedes who has led him to his seven world Championship titles. Will this mystical combination once again be able to weave the magic. Well, only time will tell.
Stepping aside from the Schumi comeback for a moment. This season will witness the entry of three new team Virgin Racing, Hispania Racing (formerly campos racing) and Lotus F1. In all there will be 12 teams and 24 cars vying for the championship. The rules too have changed drastically, for the first time (well, as far as I can remember) there is no refueling during the course of the race. So, this change in rule has led to the construction of bigger cars to accommodate the bigger fuel tank. Pit-stops this year will be must shorter (as short as 3 -4 seconds) for the tire changes. The points system too has been changed this season, due increased car line-up, the race points will run all the way down to position on the grid. The points table will be something like this, winner bags 25 , 2nd place gets 20, 3rd with 15 and going all the way to 1 point for 10th position. More cars automatically translates to more traffic, this could give us some really exciting race starts with each driver trying to outdrive the other for the lead. For no refueling this season, the focus will be on the right fuel load for the race and the perfect choice of tire for the start of the race and with pit-stops not offering much of a strategic leverage, we have a very interesting season ahead in trying to see the kind of strategies and approach the teams adopt.
So, will this season witness the return of the Schumi to the pinnacle of Motorsport or will the young brigade (all former World Champions) of Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso (with Schumi’s former team Ferrari) or even Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull steal the limelight. Well, we will have to wait until the season finally gets underway in Bahrain this weekend. One thing to keep in mind is that Schumi is back after a 3 year hiatus from competitive F1 racing. He will definitely have his work cut out against the young guns and expect him to be a little ragged at the start and should take him 2 -3 races before he gets into his groove.
It’s going to be a long drawn season running all the way into the second week of November with 19 races and 3 new venues being added , Korea, Canada and Hockenheim, Germany. Can the Schumi Brawn pair the magic again or will the young guns steal the thunder from the 7 time world champion. Well, we will have to wait and see.
F1 season 2010.......an action flick in the making!!!!!!
Stepping aside from the Schumi comeback for a moment. This season will witness the entry of three new team Virgin Racing, Hispania Racing (formerly campos racing) and Lotus F1. In all there will be 12 teams and 24 cars vying for the championship. The rules too have changed drastically, for the first time (well, as far as I can remember) there is no refueling during the course of the race. So, this change in rule has led to the construction of bigger cars to accommodate the bigger fuel tank. Pit-stops this year will be must shorter (as short as 3 -4 seconds) for the tire changes. The points system too has been changed this season, due increased car line-up, the race points will run all the way down to position on the grid. The points table will be something like this, winner bags 25 , 2nd place gets 20, 3rd with 15 and going all the way to 1 point for 10th position. More cars automatically translates to more traffic, this could give us some really exciting race starts with each driver trying to outdrive the other for the lead. For no refueling this season, the focus will be on the right fuel load for the race and the perfect choice of tire for the start of the race and with pit-stops not offering much of a strategic leverage, we have a very interesting season ahead in trying to see the kind of strategies and approach the teams adopt.
So, will this season witness the return of the Schumi to the pinnacle of Motorsport or will the young brigade (all former World Champions) of Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso (with Schumi’s former team Ferrari) or even Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull steal the limelight. Well, we will have to wait until the season finally gets underway in Bahrain this weekend. One thing to keep in mind is that Schumi is back after a 3 year hiatus from competitive F1 racing. He will definitely have his work cut out against the young guns and expect him to be a little ragged at the start and should take him 2 -3 races before he gets into his groove.
It’s going to be a long drawn season running all the way into the second week of November with 19 races and 3 new venues being added , Korea, Canada and Hockenheim, Germany. Can the Schumi Brawn pair the magic again or will the young guns steal the thunder from the 7 time world champion. Well, we will have to wait and see.
F1 season 2010.......an action flick in the making!!!!!!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Bon South………..
Perhaps, one of the few South Indian food joints in an area dotted with North Indian and Chinese Restaurants. I had heard a lot about this place, about the cuisine, the contemporary layout of the restaurant. The expectation that I had set from the reviews , the promotions on radio and what I had heard from people who’d been there earlier, turned out to be a complete damper. The only thought, which constantly kept crossing my mind after my first 10 min was, Boy!!!! This place is overrated.
The layout of the dining area is in the form of blocks, this in turn makes you feel claustrophobic as you are generally cramped into a corner. Any dining area should generally have free flowing ventilation and good view of the ambiance. Here, seated at once corner you just do not get a chance to feel the ambiance, in essence you just are not able to make a connection with the food and the locale and the message being portrayed. To make things worse, the air-conditioning is not up to the mark or the ducts are not positioned in the right areas, for a closed dining area, bad air-conditioning is a cardinal sin. The décor too was not particularly appealing, the lights were not turned on in the afternoon, really couldn’t get the visual effect in offer. The only conclusion to be drawn from here is, a design completely gone wrong.
Now, the most important part of the blog, the food! Well, I just have two works to say, sheer pathetic. For the place that boasts of authentic south Indian food, there is something that seems to have gone horribly wrong. After, a initial round of tasting, you are left to deal with a sweet palate. Every dish here has a hint of sweetness to it. Andhra style, Gongura mutton curry was the least bit spicy, to everyone’s surprise in fact. The service wasn’t too great, constantly having to remind the waiter to serve water, gosh!!! All this in your first visit. The misery doesn’t end here!! After each round, the tables weren’t cleared and one had to remind them about it. For a Lunch Buffet priced at 260- 270 per person, taste doesn’t and quality doesn’t do any justice.
The Appam (though sweet again) was reasonable and the kerala parota well made. The Kerala fish curry was reasonable and the Biryani descent. That apart, every other dish had something lacking. The mutton soup (if you can call that so) was outright disgusting (it was more of a flavoured broth). The veg side of the world too wasn’t any bit appetizing.
Overall, Bon South was definitely a letdown for me, considering the fact I had heard so much about it before. It would probably rate it a 4/10.
Bon South…….No Bon Appetite!!!!!
The layout of the dining area is in the form of blocks, this in turn makes you feel claustrophobic as you are generally cramped into a corner. Any dining area should generally have free flowing ventilation and good view of the ambiance. Here, seated at once corner you just do not get a chance to feel the ambiance, in essence you just are not able to make a connection with the food and the locale and the message being portrayed. To make things worse, the air-conditioning is not up to the mark or the ducts are not positioned in the right areas, for a closed dining area, bad air-conditioning is a cardinal sin. The décor too was not particularly appealing, the lights were not turned on in the afternoon, really couldn’t get the visual effect in offer. The only conclusion to be drawn from here is, a design completely gone wrong.
Now, the most important part of the blog, the food! Well, I just have two works to say, sheer pathetic. For the place that boasts of authentic south Indian food, there is something that seems to have gone horribly wrong. After, a initial round of tasting, you are left to deal with a sweet palate. Every dish here has a hint of sweetness to it. Andhra style, Gongura mutton curry was the least bit spicy, to everyone’s surprise in fact. The service wasn’t too great, constantly having to remind the waiter to serve water, gosh!!! All this in your first visit. The misery doesn’t end here!! After each round, the tables weren’t cleared and one had to remind them about it. For a Lunch Buffet priced at 260- 270 per person, taste doesn’t and quality doesn’t do any justice.
The Appam (though sweet again) was reasonable and the kerala parota well made. The Kerala fish curry was reasonable and the Biryani descent. That apart, every other dish had something lacking. The mutton soup (if you can call that so) was outright disgusting (it was more of a flavoured broth). The veg side of the world too wasn’t any bit appetizing.
Overall, Bon South was definitely a letdown for me, considering the fact I had heard so much about it before. It would probably rate it a 4/10.
Bon South…….No Bon Appetite!!!!!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Jenson Button F1 World Champion 2009……
Sao Paulo does it again, the penultimate race of the 2009 calendar producing a third formula one Champion in as many years. It’s been a long time since the season began with the opening race at Albert Park, Melbourne. But, all through this long controversy marred season Brawn GP and Jenson Button simple looked unstoppable and rightly so, were crowned constructers and World Champion respectively.
Button became the 10th British Driver after the likes of Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill and rival and Defending Champion Lewis Hamilton to the take the coveted F1 crown. Also, Brawn GP pocketed the solitary point required to seal the Constructors’ Championship, a double whammy for the Brawn team in their maiden F1 season.
Headed by Team Principal and Owner Ross Brawn, who catapulted Michael Schumacher to being a 7 time world champion at Benetton and Ferrari, Brawn GP always had the leader capable of creating a champion. Yet again, Ross whipped up some of his trademark Brawn magic to place Button at the pinnacle of motorsport.
After all the controversies through the season and the possibility of a parallel championship doing the rounds through the season, the life threatening crash of Fillipe Massa in his Ferrari ,there couldn’t be a more fitting Finale to the 2009 season and what better circuit than the famous Sao Paulo track in Brazil.
With one more race left this season it is almost curtains down this F1 season, but definitely not before we take a trip round the brand new and absolutely stunning Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. This circuit boasts of some the most magnificent architectures in the F1 calendar. The track runs along the spectacular Yas marina, beneath the 5 star Yas Marina Hotel and pit lane exits from under the circuit. Definitely a great circuit to watch out for.
Everything said and done, all due credit goes to Jenson Button for showing tremendous form at the start of the season, winning 6 of the 7 races which basically sealed the title for Button and Brawn. Will 2010 season see another new Champion, Well, only time will tell? For the moment, though it is Button and Brawn for having firmly “Buttoned” the 2009 season.
Jenson Button………..The Champion is here!!!!!!!!!!
Button became the 10th British Driver after the likes of Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill and rival and Defending Champion Lewis Hamilton to the take the coveted F1 crown. Also, Brawn GP pocketed the solitary point required to seal the Constructors’ Championship, a double whammy for the Brawn team in their maiden F1 season.
Headed by Team Principal and Owner Ross Brawn, who catapulted Michael Schumacher to being a 7 time world champion at Benetton and Ferrari, Brawn GP always had the leader capable of creating a champion. Yet again, Ross whipped up some of his trademark Brawn magic to place Button at the pinnacle of motorsport.
After all the controversies through the season and the possibility of a parallel championship doing the rounds through the season, the life threatening crash of Fillipe Massa in his Ferrari ,there couldn’t be a more fitting Finale to the 2009 season and what better circuit than the famous Sao Paulo track in Brazil.
With one more race left this season it is almost curtains down this F1 season, but definitely not before we take a trip round the brand new and absolutely stunning Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. This circuit boasts of some the most magnificent architectures in the F1 calendar. The track runs along the spectacular Yas marina, beneath the 5 star Yas Marina Hotel and pit lane exits from under the circuit. Definitely a great circuit to watch out for.
Everything said and done, all due credit goes to Jenson Button for showing tremendous form at the start of the season, winning 6 of the 7 races which basically sealed the title for Button and Brawn. Will 2010 season see another new Champion, Well, only time will tell? For the moment, though it is Button and Brawn for having firmly “Buttoned” the 2009 season.
Jenson Button………..The Champion is here!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Twist in the Tale…...
F1 2009 season……mid season sneak peak……
10 races into the season and with loads of controversies to talk about and a career threatening crash involving Ferrari’s Felipe Massa , F1 2009 takes a mid season break.
Boy ‘o’ Boy has this season seen it’s share of twists and turns. The Max Mosley induced fiasco, which, well almost, gave birth to a rival F1 tournament. This controversy seemed to take away all the excitement from the track to off it (There were more closely fought battles there). However, god’s hand of grace still prevailed on F1 with Mosley announcing that he would not be standing in the presidential elections when his term expires in October, putting the rival F1 controversy to rest, atleast for the moment. With Champions Ferrari and Defending champion Hamilton finding it daunting task to stamp their authority on the F1 scene as they have quite effortlessly done in the past years. But, 2009 had a different tale to narrate. A new script in the form of Brawn GP and experienced act in the form of Jenson Button seemed to have done the trick, in an otherwise a very plain and unheralded season.
With more than half the season done and dusted, quite literally, Jenson Button leads the championship with 70 points, followed by Mark Webber at a distant 51.5. With 6 more races to go, only a miracle would stop Jenson Button from taking home is maiden F1 title. But, as they say, in F1 even “Gods can be crazy”, is this the last of twists we have seen this season or is there more, we will only know in the days to come.
A horrific crash involving Felipe Massa in his Ferrari, suffering a skull fracture and threatening to prematurely end his career, took the focus away from all the chaos of the track. Poor old Massa, he was the only thing going right for Ferrari this season. If you thought, what more could go wrong this season and isn’t there anything right that could happen to F1 this year. Well, that’s when the most unexpected and probably the most welcomed twist was scripted. Yes, the return of THE MICHEAL SCHUMACHER, the man himself, piped to replace Massa for the rest of the season. This was one comeback, more eagerly awaited than the release of Harry Potter flick. The GOD of F1 was set to scorch the tracks again with the scarlet red Ferrari. But as it turned out, that wasn’t to be. As doctors ruled out his return as he had not fully recovered from a neck injury sustained during a biking incident earlier this year. So finally, it will be Luca Badoer, Ferrari’s seasoned test driver to replace Massa.
Phew!!!!! All this with just 10 races this season., 6 more to go, are there anymore Twists in the tale in store, Well, only time will tell. Racing moves to Valencia this season for round 11. Keep watching, there just might be another surprise at the next corner.
F1 season 2009…….The Pandora’s Box Opened!!!!!!!!
10 races into the season and with loads of controversies to talk about and a career threatening crash involving Ferrari’s Felipe Massa , F1 2009 takes a mid season break.
Boy ‘o’ Boy has this season seen it’s share of twists and turns. The Max Mosley induced fiasco, which, well almost, gave birth to a rival F1 tournament. This controversy seemed to take away all the excitement from the track to off it (There were more closely fought battles there). However, god’s hand of grace still prevailed on F1 with Mosley announcing that he would not be standing in the presidential elections when his term expires in October, putting the rival F1 controversy to rest, atleast for the moment. With Champions Ferrari and Defending champion Hamilton finding it daunting task to stamp their authority on the F1 scene as they have quite effortlessly done in the past years. But, 2009 had a different tale to narrate. A new script in the form of Brawn GP and experienced act in the form of Jenson Button seemed to have done the trick, in an otherwise a very plain and unheralded season.
With more than half the season done and dusted, quite literally, Jenson Button leads the championship with 70 points, followed by Mark Webber at a distant 51.5. With 6 more races to go, only a miracle would stop Jenson Button from taking home is maiden F1 title. But, as they say, in F1 even “Gods can be crazy”, is this the last of twists we have seen this season or is there more, we will only know in the days to come.
A horrific crash involving Felipe Massa in his Ferrari, suffering a skull fracture and threatening to prematurely end his career, took the focus away from all the chaos of the track. Poor old Massa, he was the only thing going right for Ferrari this season. If you thought, what more could go wrong this season and isn’t there anything right that could happen to F1 this year. Well, that’s when the most unexpected and probably the most welcomed twist was scripted. Yes, the return of THE MICHEAL SCHUMACHER, the man himself, piped to replace Massa for the rest of the season. This was one comeback, more eagerly awaited than the release of Harry Potter flick. The GOD of F1 was set to scorch the tracks again with the scarlet red Ferrari. But as it turned out, that wasn’t to be. As doctors ruled out his return as he had not fully recovered from a neck injury sustained during a biking incident earlier this year. So finally, it will be Luca Badoer, Ferrari’s seasoned test driver to replace Massa.
Phew!!!!! All this with just 10 races this season., 6 more to go, are there anymore Twists in the tale in store, Well, only time will tell. Racing moves to Valencia this season for round 11. Keep watching, there just might be another surprise at the next corner.
F1 season 2009…….The Pandora’s Box Opened!!!!!!!!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Mainland China............
Those with the little extra zing for Chinese cuisine will surely have visited Mainland China, one of the long running Chinese restaurants in Bangalore. There are very many Chinese restaurants in the city, so what makes this one different. For starters, the ambiance within is very soothing with light coloured hues all round. The furniture being minimal and aptly placed gives a more spacious feel to the restaurant.
The food at Mainland is simply put delicious, the must try is the skewered lamb served on smouldering charcoal embers. These sizzling hot skewers are a treat to that growling tummy. Every bite gives a sense of instant gratification. Among the soups a definite must try is the sweet corn chicken soup, very light and subtle with the broth of boiled tender chicken and corn. A pinch of salt and pepper with chili sauce makes for that perfect soup. The chili chicken too is perfectly made with the right amount of spice and not too oily. The fried rice too is well prepared and makes for a good supper, the serving though is sufficient for two people.
Well, for those who like to have a quick smoke while you sip up your drinks, it could be a little disappointing as the entire restaurant is a no smoking area. The agonizingly long wait for the food to reach your table on the usually busy Saturday evening could irk you a little. The decor of the place may not be all that breathtaking and theme based contemporary as some of the other restaurants, but nevertheless, Mainland stands out for the quality of the food served. Delicious sumptuous food is what epitomizes Mainland China.
A dinner for two with drinks could cost anywhere between Rs.1000 – 1300.
Mainland China……..Thumbs Up!!!!!
The food at Mainland is simply put delicious, the must try is the skewered lamb served on smouldering charcoal embers. These sizzling hot skewers are a treat to that growling tummy. Every bite gives a sense of instant gratification. Among the soups a definite must try is the sweet corn chicken soup, very light and subtle with the broth of boiled tender chicken and corn. A pinch of salt and pepper with chili sauce makes for that perfect soup. The chili chicken too is perfectly made with the right amount of spice and not too oily. The fried rice too is well prepared and makes for a good supper, the serving though is sufficient for two people.
Well, for those who like to have a quick smoke while you sip up your drinks, it could be a little disappointing as the entire restaurant is a no smoking area. The agonizingly long wait for the food to reach your table on the usually busy Saturday evening could irk you a little. The decor of the place may not be all that breathtaking and theme based contemporary as some of the other restaurants, but nevertheless, Mainland stands out for the quality of the food served. Delicious sumptuous food is what epitomizes Mainland China.
A dinner for two with drinks could cost anywhere between Rs.1000 – 1300.
Mainland China……..Thumbs Up!!!!!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
F1 season 2009………..
Already 5 races into the season, 2009 has seen the most dramatic change in the fortunes of F1 teams. Front runners Ferrari and McLaren struggling with reliability issues and a car simply lacking the pace and the new kid on the block Brawn GP setting the tone to the season. This season so far has Ferrari putting up its worst ever performance since 1981, going without a point after four races. In fact, Ferrari seems to be finding it hard to even make both their cars cross the finish line, let alone finish in a point scoring position.
After Honda backed out midway from the season last year to create a Championship winning car, many wondered if that would be the end of the Honda era. But, as the Japanese are known for their grit and sheer hard work, Honda came back with a Bang in the form a complete new package with technical head and Master Strategist Ross Brawn at the forefront. This new Challenge to the defending champions from Surrey and the Scarlet Red Giants was christened Brawn GP.
Much has been talked about the rear diffuser that is being used by some the teams and much hue and cry has been made about it. So, what exactly is the rear diffuser issue and why is did the season start off with this being a controversy? As per the FIA’s change of to bring down the teams’ dependencies on extraneous items to generate down force, the dimensions of the diffuser have undergone a few changes and this has been interpreted differently by different teams. (this is mentioned in the detailed rules provided by the FIA). For example, the link below the shows the rear diffuser designed and being used by teams like McLaren, Ferrari, Renault and BMW Sauber
"http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2009/0/621.html"
And seen below the diffuser designed and used by the Williams, Brawn and Toyota.
"http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2009/0/623.html"
This clear difference in the height difference in the central section between the two designs and the second set of teams getting a performance advantage. However, the FIA has ruled this in favour of the Brawn and William’s, and so the design will remain.
The next major change in the FIA rules this year is the introduction of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System). This is what summarized FIA rule states on the KERS “As its name implies, a KERS recovers the (normally wasted) kinetic energy generated by the car’s braking process. This energy is stored using a mechanical flywheel or an electrical battery and then made available to the driver, in set amounts per lap, via a ‘boost button’ on the steering wheel. Under the current regulations the power gain equates to around 80 horsepower, available for just less than seven seconds per lap. This could be worth several tenths of a second in terms of lap time, but the weight and packaging of the system - and its impact on the car’s weight distribution - also have to be taken into account”.
Of all the teams running season this year, only seven cars are equipped with KERS, The two Ferrari’s, both the McLaren’s, both Renault’s and Hieldfeld’s BMW. KERS till now seems to be a little of a headache to teams, considering the fact that there is an extra 25 kilos of weight that cars have to carry in terms of electronics and mechanical devices. IF used well, it could be a real boon to the teams during qualifying gaining as much as 20 m in a single burst on a straight line, that is, three grid places. Very Crucial indeed. But, will the additional weight be a deterrent on race day? Will the time and distance gained in one part of the circuit be compromised on other sections? This of course we will come to know only as the season progresses.
Will this season turn out to be a battle between the KERS equipped cars and those without it? Who will have the tactical and technical advantage? Well, this is for all of us to see as the races unfold. After five rounds, it seems the teams without the KERS and the double Decker rear diffuser have the edge. The sea of the technical changes by the FIA has the left Champions McLaren and their rivals Ferrari biting the dust behind the Brawns and Red Bulls.
The Season has finally entered Europe where Ferrari always surprises other teams with their strategy and overall package. Does Ferrari have another tick up its sleeve? that’s for all of us to see.
F1 Season 2009……… The underdogs are making their presence felt!!!!!!
After Honda backed out midway from the season last year to create a Championship winning car, many wondered if that would be the end of the Honda era. But, as the Japanese are known for their grit and sheer hard work, Honda came back with a Bang in the form a complete new package with technical head and Master Strategist Ross Brawn at the forefront. This new Challenge to the defending champions from Surrey and the Scarlet Red Giants was christened Brawn GP.
Much has been talked about the rear diffuser that is being used by some the teams and much hue and cry has been made about it. So, what exactly is the rear diffuser issue and why is did the season start off with this being a controversy? As per the FIA’s change of to bring down the teams’ dependencies on extraneous items to generate down force, the dimensions of the diffuser have undergone a few changes and this has been interpreted differently by different teams. (this is mentioned in the detailed rules provided by the FIA). For example, the link below the shows the rear diffuser designed and being used by teams like McLaren, Ferrari, Renault and BMW Sauber
"http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2009/0/621.html"
And seen below the diffuser designed and used by the Williams, Brawn and Toyota.
"http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2009/0/623.html"
This clear difference in the height difference in the central section between the two designs and the second set of teams getting a performance advantage. However, the FIA has ruled this in favour of the Brawn and William’s, and so the design will remain.
The next major change in the FIA rules this year is the introduction of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System). This is what summarized FIA rule states on the KERS “As its name implies, a KERS recovers the (normally wasted) kinetic energy generated by the car’s braking process. This energy is stored using a mechanical flywheel or an electrical battery and then made available to the driver, in set amounts per lap, via a ‘boost button’ on the steering wheel. Under the current regulations the power gain equates to around 80 horsepower, available for just less than seven seconds per lap. This could be worth several tenths of a second in terms of lap time, but the weight and packaging of the system - and its impact on the car’s weight distribution - also have to be taken into account”.
Of all the teams running season this year, only seven cars are equipped with KERS, The two Ferrari’s, both the McLaren’s, both Renault’s and Hieldfeld’s BMW. KERS till now seems to be a little of a headache to teams, considering the fact that there is an extra 25 kilos of weight that cars have to carry in terms of electronics and mechanical devices. IF used well, it could be a real boon to the teams during qualifying gaining as much as 20 m in a single burst on a straight line, that is, three grid places. Very Crucial indeed. But, will the additional weight be a deterrent on race day? Will the time and distance gained in one part of the circuit be compromised on other sections? This of course we will come to know only as the season progresses.
Will this season turn out to be a battle between the KERS equipped cars and those without it? Who will have the tactical and technical advantage? Well, this is for all of us to see as the races unfold. After five rounds, it seems the teams without the KERS and the double Decker rear diffuser have the edge. The sea of the technical changes by the FIA has the left Champions McLaren and their rivals Ferrari biting the dust behind the Brawns and Red Bulls.
The Season has finally entered Europe where Ferrari always surprises other teams with their strategy and overall package. Does Ferrari have another tick up its sleeve? that’s for all of us to see.
F1 Season 2009……… The underdogs are making their presence felt!!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)